The Bass Coast Rail trail between Wonthaggi and Kilcunda is quite well known, but I was interested to investigate the other end of the trail between Woolamai and Kilcunda Trestle Bridge.
It was a bit hard to see from the road where the Bass Coast Rail Trail started at Woolamai. We found where the rail trail crossed Woolamai Road, so Derek dropped me there and I cycled a little over a kilometre back to the intersection of McGrath and Trew Road. This is what it looks like where the trail starts near the Woolamai Racing Club.
Woolamai to Anderson (6 kilometres)
As I cycled up the gentle slope to where I had started, I enjoyed the beautiful spring sunshine and these blossoms lining the trail.
In a stand of pine trees, some yellow-tailed black cockatoos were noisily eating pine cone seeds. Unfortunately I wasn’t quick enough to get a good photo of them before they flew away.
Soon I saw this Bass Coast Rail Trail marker, which reassured me that I was indeed on the right trail.
As I continued to climb, there were distant views across Western Port Bay towards French Island.
After six kilometres I reached the crest of the hill and rolled down into the former station of Anderson.
Anderson to Kilcunda Trestle Bridge (6 km)
Anderson is a convenient start point for a ride, with a car park and toilets.
There is also a bike path which heads off towards Phillip Island, but that was for another day.
From Anderson, the Bass Coast Rail Trail climbs a few more metres to the site of the former Mitchell’s Black Coal Mine. Black coal was mined from this area from the 1870s to the 1970s.
A strong wind was blowing. Even with a bike stand, I couldn’t get my bike to stay upright while I took some photos.
As the Bass Coast Rail Trail curved down to cross the Bass Highway, I could see to the ocean.
After crossing the highway, the rail trail passed our caravan park on a raised embankment. I waved to Derek as I cycled past and continued on a short way to the Kilcunda Trestle Bridge.
Kilcunda Trestle Bridge
I was very excited to finally see this iconic and much photographed trestle bridge. From the top of the bridge Kilcunda Beach looked gorgeous in the sunshine.
I rode across and parked my bike on the other side
and took a narrow path down to see the bridge from Bourne Creek.
It was hard to believe that most of the coal required for steam-powered locomotives in Victoria between 1911 and 1978 was carried by train across this beautiful bridge.
I climbed up to my bike again and cycled back to our caravan park.
Including my short detours at the beginning and end of the trail, I had cycled 15 kilometres and climbed 86 metres.
The next day I cycled the other half of the Bass Coast Rail trail between Wonthaggi and Kilcunda.
Other wonderful rail trails in Gippsland are the Great Southern Rail Trail, the Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail, the East Gippsland Rail Trail and the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail.
